Hello, Friends

I have couple of questions to be answered in order

I am Somalian, a Microsoft certified Software Developer (MCSD.Net) who lives in U.S with a refugee/asylee status. If you’re not familiar with this status, it is an immigration status that allows you to get the green card with in 2 years and become a citizen after 5 years as usual. However I have been here for 7 years and I don’t have my green card yet, why? Firstly I guess I was lazy to apply it, I did not apply my Green card up until 2006. Secondly, things are unusual nowadays in U.S the processing time for any think takes for ever. But anyhow, I have my wife and my 2 children is Zurich, Switzerland. My kids were born over there, and my wife, also Somalian has an “F” status in Swiss, which means she cannot travel to the next country. I visit them once in every year with my refugee/asylee travel document. If I would get my green card it would be very easy for me to bring them here, but that is not the case now. To make long story short, I am thinking to find a job in Switzerland and just to live over there with my kids and wife. If any bodies have any ideas to make this happen let me know. I will appreciate your help.

Thank you every body.

so you're admitting you're lazy and then you're asking us to get you a job?

I think this is more an intro. Search the site for "english speaking companies" and you'll find lots of links

yes, you should contact the Swiss embassy and ask them to explain your options to you. Have you done this, and what did they say?

I did and they are not very helpfull on my case. several times i called, they did not even clerify whether i am eligible for the work visa or not.

Hello, Dear

I was lazy not now.

would you please provide a link of the "english speaking camanies" you've mentioned.

I've re-read and re-read your initial post. I frankly cannot understand why you did not go through the whole landing process with green card and naturalisation in the US.

How in blue buggery could you be "too lazy" to do it?!

So your wife and kids are somewhere over here under asylum rulings? Have you tried talking to US authorities to finally speed through a green card application?

Well I'm afraid you should talk to them again, because if you aren't eligible for a visa, then nothing is going to happen.

If they are unable to clarify the situation then perhaps you should ask them why that is? If they are unable to assist you further then you should ask for the details of the relevant authority within Switzerland that you need to speak to. Alternatively, you could ask your wife to contact the relevant authorities within Switzerland.

You see, we don't get any funding to be providing information that the Swiss might not be providing very effectively. So I think you are going to need to do some of your own leg work on this one.

A green card and then citizenship for refugees in the US within five years? You have (or rather had) an amazing opportunity there.

I'm not a refugee, but I couldn't even consider begging for Swiss citizenship until I've spent at least 12 years here. Refugees in Switzerland? Best ask your wife about that....

I think I have to agree with Lob on this one - your best bet is going to be to try and get your US green card and citizenship. If you think the process is difficult in the US then you might be shocked when you learn how it works in Switzerland. It sounds at least as if the US is treating you reasonably well.

Yes, in theory you've been working in the US, not been in prison and can speak in person to someone to accelerate an application for green card. If your tax and criminal record are in order, this should speed your application - plus if you actually speak to a person, get their name and stay in touch, you might be surprised.

Processing time only takes forever if you keep putting it off!

[quote=mark;63130]A green card and then citizenship for refugees in the US within five years? You have (or rather had) an amazing opportunity there.


Definitely, I will not give up my U.S status. But what I am trying to know is: whether if I can live and work in Swiss during my Green Card process.

Well, I don't know either. That's why you should speak to the authorities, it's their job to give you that information, and your duty to ask them for it.

dear you sound like you dont live in U.S

Discussable or negotiable, they take what take. As far as tax and criminal background, I am superb. Finally instead of blaming me or arguing give me ideas body.

Thanks

Green Card is a permanent residency of US but you want to live and work in Switzerland. How you can prove to the authorities.

I think you should look up the provisions under the Green Card process, which might preclude you from living / working abroad regardless of what Switzerland says. Not being lazy would help a lot here - i'm sure it's somewhere in the documents they made you sign.

Further, there is in principle no family reunification allowed for F permit holders. You could personally apply for asylum in Switzerland, but considering you're domiciled and employed in the US they'll simply laugh at you.

Finally, if your wife holds an F permit that means that her asylum request has been denied but she cannot be deported for the moment. Which I am also sure it has been made clear to her.

[quote=AdamI;63142] I wouldn't expect much more help now

If I lived in the US, I'd hardly be on this site
On the bright side, I'm automatically eligible for a green card

I think enough people have given you ideas on this thread. If you had not been so lazy and negative, you would have had a US passport by now.

The US government informed you of your rights and you were too lazy to follow that advice. Why would you then listen to anonymous advice on the internet and act upon it?

Hire the services of a lawyer.

Did you actually tried to find a job here. Try sending your CV to some headhunting agencies based in Switzerland.

Before moving to Switzerland I spent months looking into the whole greencard/visa thing for the states, I spoke to immigration lawyers, searcehd the internet, in the end I even thought about becoming an immigration lawyer myself, I spent so long on the subject. I was offered a job in the US, but I had to find all the info, and in the end, it was practically impossible for me to work there (if anyone tried, you know how it is). Anyway, from what I gather, if you have a Greencard (and once, I would have done a lot to get one!) once you leave the US, as far as I have read, that is it, you loose it. It is easy for them to check as they keep a record of when you go/come back, etc etc. A Greencard gives you permanent residence, but if you decide to leave, you usually forfeit it. I have heard of people leaving the US to live somewhere else and they had a GC, and then doing numerous trips backwards and forwards to ensure they could keep it.. you might like to read this:
Retain green card - Useful tips for permanent residents
Could your wife not move to the States on your GC? You would most definitely need a lawyer for this though, but as far as a I know, the wife of a GC holder is able to live and WORK (by getting an EAD, takes about 90 days by filling in a fair few forms..) in the US...
OK, I could go on and on, I will stop here!

Mary, a great post bar Adam not having a GC

If you leave the country, I believe you can file tax returns and get a green card. I know someone who had the GC confiscated at LAX for not filing - but has a green card on account of a step-parent being a US citizen.